News Photo by Steve Schulwitz A video of a dog plays on the TikTok application in Alpena on Thursday. TikTok is slated to go offline in the United States on Sunday if the Chinese company that owns it doesn’t sell it to an American-approved purchaser.

ALPENA — The clock is ticking down for users of the popular video-sharing application TikTok.

Sunday is the federal government’s deadline for TikTok’s owner ByteDance to sell the platform to an American company or investor, or it will go offline in the United States.

If TikTok goes dark, people will still be able to log into the app on their mobile devices, but ByteDance says users will be forwarded to a page that provides them with information about why the social media platform is banned in the U.S.

It is estimated that 170 million Americans utilize the application.

In Alpena, TikTok users are preparing for the worst, but they hold out hope that the U.S. Supreme Court rules against the federal government.

ByteDance is seeking an emergency injunction against the ban, claiming the government’s action is a violation of free speech.

The government says the use of the app is a threat to national security and can be used to spy on America because of China’s ability to collect data.

Many local TikTok users are disappointed that TikTok might not be accessible in the United States. They say the app has helped them discover new hobbies, connect with people who share similar tastes, and even help market their small businesses.

Emilio Olivo said TikTok is important to him and many young people in the area. He said it is a place for people to socialize, share life events, and become members of communities with other people who have similar interests.

“TikTok has been a very important platform for me and the majority of the teens and youth in Alpena,” Olivo said. “It is a way to connect with friends and family in a much more simple way than other platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The ability to be able to share the content in such a simple manner has been beneficial for our small groups and cliques. The ban would be detrimental to our social outlets and would cut off the easy access we once had to this style of content. Overall, I believe the TikTok ban is an act against the people’s right of free speech and should not happen.”

JoLyne Sigmon said she watches TikTok videos for creative ideas, cooking tips, parenting advice, and wedding planning information. She said if used responsibly, the video app is a good source of information and a way to learn. Sigmon also believes the federal government is overstepping its regulatory bounds.

“I use it almost daily,” she said. “I use it for things like getting nail art designs for when I do mine or others’ nails, for recipes, parenting things, and wedding ideas. Yes, TikTok has lots of useless videos on it but there are also a lot of good informational videos. I think the ban is just the government’s way of trying to have more control over us. There’s no reason for them to ban it, they may as well ban every form of social media.”

Lexi Lino is a digital marketing specialist and a small business owner in Alpena. She said like any social media platform, some things are objectionable for young people. She said there is also a learning element to it and is a key tool to help establish and grow businesses.

“Do I feel social media is healthy for young minds? No,” Lino said. “Do I feel that social media, like TikTok, is a great platform for advertising, marketing, and promotion? Absolutely. TikTok is a great platform with phenomenal data. It has been proven time and time again. Look into how many businesses that started off small, have turned into a successful, well-functioning machine because of the algorithm.”

Cori Williams said she uses TikTok to connect with her favorite musicians, learn more about places she intends to visit, and much more.

“I follow bands, cooking channels, and pet groups,” she said. “I have a folder of London travel suggestions for an upcoming trip that’s going to get wiped out.”

In a recent Facebook post about the looming ban, many people said they don’t use the app, and others say they support the government’s decision to protect users and the country from possibly bad intentions from the Chinese government.

Katie Quarandillo said if the government believes the application is a large enough threat to forbid its many federal employees from using it, then she will take the alleged threat seriously.

“If it’s been banned on Department of Defense devices because it’s considered a cyber security and spying threat, that’s enough for me to not trust it on my personal device,” she said.

In March of last year, President Joe Biden signed a bill demanding that ByteDance sell TikTok to a U.S.-approved buyer within nine months or face a total ban of the app within the United States because of national security and spying concerns.

ByteDance, which has direct connections to the Chinese government, has not shown the will to do so.

On Thursday, NBC News reported an official in the Biden administration told it that Biden may have softened his stance on TikTok and is now considering ways to keep it available in the United States if a ban that’s scheduled to go into effect Sunday proceeds.

President-elect Donald Trump, during his first term, favored a TikTok ban but had a change of heart during the recent presidential election cycle. Trump said earlier this week he is considering issuing an executive order to extend the deadline for the ban to give ByteDance, the court, and potential buyers a chance to institute a sale or plan to keep the platform operating.

The law to ban TikTok allows a 90-day extension for ByteDance if significant progress has been made towards a sale. There is some interest from American investors to acquire it, but nothing seems imminent.

Last week, Kevin O’Leary, of the television show Sharktank said on the Fox Business Channel, said that he was working with a group of other investors to try to purchase TikTok.

Earlier this week it was reported by Bloomberg that Elon Musk, who owns Tesla, X, and other companies, was in talks with members of the Chinese government trying to convince it to allow him to purchase TikTok.

If sales talks advance, it could open the door for an extension to help a deal move forward.

It is not known when the Supreme Court will rule on the TikTok case.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.